PressTV: Syrian army retakes strategic gas field in Homs Province

SHAFAQNA (International Shia News Association)- Syrian army troops backed by pro-government fighters have recaptured a strategic gas field in the central militancy-stricken province of Homs.

Syrian state television, citing an unnamed military source, reported that Syrian forces retook control of Shaer gas field and its surrounding area on Thursday.

Shaer gas field had fallen into the hands of Takfiri ISIL terrorists on October 30, when the terrorists launched an attack that killed dozens of pro-government forces and security guards.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Syrian army regained control of the Jhar and Mahr gas fields, as well as the Hayyan gas company in the east of Homs Province.

On Thursday, Syrian government forces carried out an operation near the northeastern city of al-Hasakah, located approximately 650 kilometers (400 miles) northeast of the capital, Damascus, killing scores of ISIL members.

Syrian army units also took control of the eastern part of the town of Sheikh Meskin in the southwestern Dara’a Province, and inflicted heavy losses on the militants there.

Meanwhile, the army said a militant attack on one of its posts near the city of Homs, located 162 kilometers (101 miles) north of Damascus, was repelled and several militants were killed in the battle.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011. Western powers and some of their regional allies – especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey – are reportedly supporting the militants operating in Syria.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein has said that more than 200,000 people have died in the Syrian conflict since March 2011.